Olive tree named ‘ASKAL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Olea europaea L.  olive tree variety named ‘ASKAL’, particularly characterized by a medium-sized tree with vigorous growth, high fruit yield, field resistance to Spilocaea oleagina, mature fruit with average commercial oil content of 23.5% on fresh weight basis under irrigation, a well-balanced fruity-grassy taste, good stability (7.8 h at 1100C), high oleic acid content of about 72% and good polyphenol content (233 mg/kg).

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Olea europaea L.

Variety denomination: ‘ASKAL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of an olive tree, botanically described as Olea europaea L. of the Oleaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the variety denomination ‘ASKAL’.

The new Olea europaea ‘ASKAL’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Shimon Lavee, Benjamin Avidan and Yair Manni, in Bet Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Olea europaea L. variety with a vigorous growth, high fruit yield, resistance to Spilocaea oleagina (peacock eye leaf disease), mature fruit with good eating quality and oil production.

The new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ originated from a cross made by the inventors in 1990 in Bet Dagan, Israel. The female or seed parent is the Olea europaea L. ‘BARNEA’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is the Olea europaea variety ‘MANZANILLO’ (unpatented). The new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ was observed and selected from the progeny of the stated cross in 1994 by the inventors in a controlled environment in Bet Dagan, Israel.

Asexual propagation of the new Olea variety by rooting of vegetable cuttings was first performed in the spring of 1995 in Bet Dagan, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual propagation. The new variety propagates true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be characteristics of ‘ASKAL’ which in combination distinguish this olive tree as a new, unique and distinct variety:

-   -   1. A Medium-sized tree with vigorous growth habit;     -   2. High fruit yield;     -   3. Field resistance to Spilocaea oleagina;     -   4. Mature fruit with average commercial oil content of 23.5% on         fresh weight basis under irrigation; and     -   5. Well-balanced fruity-grassy taste, good stability (7.8 h at         110° C.), high oleic acid content of about 72% and good         polyphenol content (233 mg/kg).

In comparison to the unpatented, parental varieties, Olea europaea L. ‘MANZANILLO’ and ‘BARNEA’, the new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ differs primarily in the traits listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with parent varieties. New Male Parent Female Parent Variety ‘MANZANILLO’ ‘BARNEA’ Trait ‘ASKAL’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Trunk diameter About About 43 cm About 45 cm (measured at 50 cm 43 cm above ground) Tree habit Upright Spreading Upright Tree Height Up to about Up to about 4.5 m Up to about 4 m 8 m

Of the many commercial varieties known to the present inventors, the most similar in comparison to the Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ is the unpatented, parental variety, Olea europaea L. ‘BARNEA’. In addition to the traits described in the foregoing Table 1, ‘ASKAL’ differs from ‘BARENA’ in the following traits described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with a well known commercial variety. New Variety Comparison variety Trait ‘ASKAL’ ‘BARNEA’ Tree type Semi-dwarf Normal Fruit shape Elliptic Elongated Conspicuousness of Medium Weak marbling

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘ASKAL’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical 10-year-old specimen of ‘ASKAL’ exhibiting its overall appearance.

FIG. 2 shows various close-up views of typical unripe, fully grown fruit of ‘ASKAL’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of typical ripe, fully grown fruit of ‘ASKAL’ and it's flesh.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Olea europaea L. ‘ASKAL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new variety may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the olive tree.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe trees of ‘ASKAL’ as grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice in Israel. Trees of ‘ASKAL’ are planted at a distance of 4×7 meters in sandy red loam soil at an elevation of about 30 meters above sea level. Trees of ‘ASKAL’ are irrigated by drip system (about 4 liters per hour) during the summer. Average annual rainfall is about 550 mm, with an average 350 mm of rainfall in winter (December to February). NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is administered through the drip system. Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is 7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is 30.8° C.

Unless otherwise stated, the detailed botanical description includes observations, measurements and values based on ten-year-old ‘ASKAL’ trees grown in the olive farm in Bet Dagan, Israel from 2004 to 2007. Quantitative data are expressed as an average of measurements taken from 10 parts of trees of ‘ASKAL’. The measurements of any individual tree, or any group of trees, of the new variety may vary from the stated average.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 1986 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under conditions of full sunlight in Bet Dagan, Israel.

All of the trees of ‘ASKAL’, insofar as they have been observed, have been consistent in all the characteristics described below.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Olea europaea L. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Olea europaea L. ‘MANZANILLO’             (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Olea europaea L. ‘BARNEA’             (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Method.—Rooting of cuttings. -   Growing conditions:     -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.         -   Temperature.—Mean diurnal minimum temperature in January is             7.2° C., and mean diurnal maximum temperature in July is             30.8° C.         -   Fertilization.—NPK fertilization (9:3:9.50 ppm) is             administered through the drip system.         -   Growth regulators.—No growth regulators are used.         -   Pruning or trimming requirements.—The olive tree of ‘ASKAL’             as described is grown without training. When the trees are             freely grown, the size and the shape assumed by the plants             are not typical of Olea europaea L. species.         -   Plant.—Type: semi-dwarf. Growth habit: upright. Vigor:             strong. Height: up to about 4 m. Diameter (Spread) of             Canopy: about 3 m. Diameter of trunk (at 50 cm height):             about 43 cm. Attitude of branches: erect. Density of canopy:             dense. Aspect of bark: semi-rough. Bark color: gray RHS             198 A. Lenticels: not visible. Abnormal leaves: present.             Shape of abnormal leaves: various.         -   Main branch.—Number of main branches per tree: 4 resulting             from pruning. Length: the length of the branch is up to 3             meters. Diameter: about 15 cm. Color: gray RHS 198 D. Angle             of main branches with axis of the tree: about 30° . Surface:             slightly rough. Lenticels: not visible.         -   One year old shoot.—Shape in cross section: round. Diameter:             5-8 mm. Color: gray RHS 196 A. Surface: smooth. Lenticels:             not visible.         -   Fruiting shoot.—Color: light grey. Length of node: short             11-20 mm. Feathers (side branching of shoot): few to medium.         -   Leaves arrangement.—The arrangement of the leaves is typical             of Olea europaea L. species (two opposite leaves per each             node).         -   Leaf blade.—Size: large. Ratio length/width: small to             medium. Length: 58-75 mm. Width : 12-14 mm. Shape: elliptic.             Glossiness: absent. Color of upper side: dark green RHS             146 A. Color of lower side: grey-green RHS 148 D. Curvature             of longitudinal axis of blade: flat. Twisting: absent.             Margin: entire. Undulation of margin: weak. Shape of apex:             acute. Shape of base: acute. Upper surface: smooth. Lower             surface: smooth. Pubescence of upper side: glabrous.             Pubescence of lower side: glabrous. Color of main vein of             upper side: dark green RHS 146 B. Color of main vein of             lower side: dark green RHS 146 B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 5-6 mm. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color:             grey-green RHS 148 D.         -   Inflorescence.—Structure: raceme. Shape: elongated.             Branching: strong. Axillary flowers: absent. Size: short,             relatively to both parents. Length: varies up to 15 cm.             Diameter: varies up to 5 cm. Number of flowers per             inflorescence: numerous. Fruits per inflorescence: 1-2.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: obovoid. Size (just before opening):             minuscule. Color: light green RHS 145 A. Pubescence: strong.             Bud length: about 4 mm. Bud diameter: about 3 mm.         -   Flower.—Diameter: 6-8 mm. Color: white RHS 155 A. Color of             pollen: medium yellow RHS 5 B. Fragrance: mild.         -   Corolla segment.—Number per flower: 4. Length: about 3 mm.             Width: about 2 mm. Shape: elliptic. Shape of apex: rounded.             Base: fused. Margin: entire. Color of upper side: white RHS             155 A. Color of lower side: white RHS 155 A.         -   Calyx lobe.—Number per flower: 4. Shape: funnel. Length:             about 1 mm. Width: less then 1 mm. Shape of apex: acute.             Base: fused. Margin: entire. Color of upper side: typical.             Color of lower side: typical.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 1-2 mm. Diameter: less then 1 mm. Surface:             smooth. Color: very light green RHS 145 D.         -   Fruit.—         -   Fruit (drupe).—In the following description, Position A             refers to the position in which the fruit shows its largest             asymmetry. Position B can be reached from position A by             turning 90 degrees along the longitudinal axes in a way that             presents the most developed part of the fruit to the             observer (according to UPOV rules). Maturity when described:             ripe for eating. Size: very small to small. Weight: about             2.4 g. Length: 16-21 mm. Diameter: 9-12 mm. Length/diameter             ratio: 2. Shape: elliptic. Transversal section shape:             circular. Green color: RHS 144 A. Color when physiologically             ripe: dark violet RHS 70 A. Color of flash (freshly cut):             light green RHS 145 B. Conspicuousness of marbling: medium.             Size of mottles: small. Color of mottles: yellow-green RHS             144 C. Symmetry in position A: weakly asymmetric. Symmetry             in position B: symmetrical. Position of maximum diameter:             central. Shape of apex in position A: pointed. Shape of apex             in position B: pointed. Mucron: present. Position of pistil             scar: not central. Shape of base in position A: truncate.             Shape of base in position B: truncate. Percentage of stone:             about 7.5. Pulp/stone ratio: about 5.7. Pulp/stone             detachment: free stone. Fruit suture curvature: not             relevant. Oil content for fresh matter% - Percentage of oil             in mesocarp (Analyzed at 50% black fruit): 23.5. Percentage             of dry weight: 50. Production per tree: about 20 kg, 5 years             old tree. Oleic acid: About 71%. Polyphenol content: about             233 mg/kg. Organoleptic characteristics: high.         -   Stalk.—Length: 11-21 mm. Thickness: about 1 mm. Color:             grey-green RHS 147 C. Width of stalk cavity: narrow, about             4-5 mm. Shape of stalk cavity: circular. Depth of stalk             cavity: very shallow to shallow, less then 1 mm. Shape of             cross section: circular.         -   Stone.—Shape in position A: elliptic. Shape in position B:             elliptic. Symmetry in position A: symmetrical. Symmetry in             position B: symmetrical. Shape of cross section: circular.             Position of largest cross section: central. Grooving: weak.             Distribution of grooves: excluding apex. Number of grooves             on basal end: less than 7. Distribution of grooves on basal             end: irregular. Shape of distal end in position A: pointed.             Shape of distal end in position B: pointed. Mucron: absent.             Shape of base in position A: pointed. Shape of base in             position B: pointed. Conspicuousness of suture:             inconspicuous. Curvature of suture: not relevant. Size:             small. Length: 14-15 mm. Diameter: 5-7 mm. Color when dry:             beige RHS 165D. Weight: about 0.42 g.         -   Time of flowering.—Mid April in Bet Dagan, Israel.         -   Flowering period.—1-2 weeks in Bet Dagan Israel.         -   Time of ripening (green maturation).—October in Bet Dagan             Israel.         -   Period of ripening.—About 4 Weeks in Bet Dagan Israel. -   Resistance to abiotic factors:     -   -   Cold.—Observed resistance of down to 0° C. in Bet Dagan,             Israel. -   Resistance to parasites:     -   -   Spilocaea oleagina.—‘ASKAL’ exhibits resistance.         -   Pseudomonas savastanoi.—‘ASKAL’ has not been tested. 

1. A new and distinct Olea europaea L. olive tree variety named ‘ASKAL’, as illustrated and described herein. 